Faith Academy volleyball loses five-set thriller

CAPTION: Faith Academy seniors Abbye Blackington (21) and Brooke Farmer set a block while junior Hadley Shipley prepares for the dig. Photo by Stennis Shotts

A five-set loss to Austin St. Dominic Savio Aug. 15 has done little to take away Faith Academy of Marble Falls volleyball coach Erin Sawyer’s enthusiasm.

“I will say we played the best we’ve ever played in a loss,” she said. “I don’t think we could have played any better.”

The Lady Flames (4-5-1) won the first set, while Savio took the second and third. Faith Academy trailed throughout the fourth set but found a way to tie it and then win. Savio won the last set 15-10 to take the match.

“Savio is a good team,” Sawyer said.

Faith asked junior Abbye Blackington to step in as setter, a position that’s not her normal spot.

“She handled business,” the coach said. “She did really well.”

Junior libero Jillian Martin continued to steady the back row, Sawyer said, noting seniors Brooke Farmer, Milayna Garcia and Kaytlyn Wood and juniors Hadley Shipley and Natalie Weems also played well.

“They’re working as a team,” she said. “It was great.”

Sawyer believes the mental flip is from Faith playing in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ Spikedown Tournament where they earned a 3-4-1 overall record.

“I really think that tournament was really good for us,” she said. “It allowed us to work together and work as a team. Everybody gave it their all. They played hard, they hustled, and they had grit. The girls were amazing.”

Faith travels to Austin San Juan Diego, 2512 S. First St., Thursday, Aug. 17. The junior varsity plays at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity follows.

The Lady Flames will host their tournament at The Fire Pit on the Faith campus Saturday, Aug. 19. They face Founders Classical at 9 a.m., Providence at noon, and Savio at 4:30 p.m.

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